Centrifugal washing and drying machine



Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL 2,656,042

CENTRIFUGAL WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Original Filed June 21, 1943 5 Sheets-Sheet l 32?? 0 1": Peri: [oz/0R0 Gaol/a: Zora/a? BA 6'59 Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL CENTRIFUGAL WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed June 21. 1943 v. 1111111111!!!lllllllnllllllla IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII/IIIII IIIIIIIIIII Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL CENTRIFUGAL WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 Original Filed June 21, 1943 PETER dbl Rea 6220M: [077/56 EMA-7e -Z/vZA/ K Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. GELDHOF ET AL CENTRIFUGAL WASHING AND DRYENG MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 Original Filed June 21, 1943 O O O O Oct. 20, 1953 P. E. GELDHOF ETAL CENTRIFUGAL WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 Original Filed June 21, 1943 P5758 [cameo @w/ar I yr/me twaie W 9 5.

Patented Oct. 20, 1953 CENTRIFUGAL WASHING AND DRYING MACHINE Peter Eduard Geldhof and Luther Ringer, St.

Joseph, Mich, assignors to Whirlpool Corporation, a corporation of New York Original application June 21, 1943, Serial No.

491,618. Divided and this application September 8, 1947, Serial No. 772,630

1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine, and more particularly, to means for reducing vibrations in any centrifugal washing or drying machine.

This application is a division of our copending application for Automatic Washing, Rinsing,

v and Drying Machine, U. S. Serial No. l9L6l8,

filed June 21, 1943, and now Patent No. 2,521,159 and assigned to the same assignee as the present invention.

The development of satisfactory automatic washing, rinsing and drying machines for home use has been handicapped to some extent by the relatively great amount of vibrations usually associated with commercial laundry machines. Accurate dynamic balancing of large rotating masses, and particularly, unbalanced loads cause by non-uniform location of the clothes in the clothes container has been heretofore costly. For that reason, most automatic washing, rinsing and drying machines have either been high in price for the average home use, or else were of such a character that excessive vibrations were present.

One of the principal features and objects of the present invention is to provide novel means for reducing vibrations in centrifugal washing and drying machines, and particularly, machines for home use.

A further object of the present invention is to provide an automatic washing, rinsing and drying machine of novel design.

A still further object of the present invention is to provide a novel tub construction for a laundry machine.

Another and further object of the present invention is to provide a novel supporting structure and tub arrangement for a laundry machine.

Still another and further object of the present invention is to provide novel means for introducing liquid into the tub.

The novel features which we believe to be characteristic of our invention are set forth with particularity in the appended claim. Our invention itself, however, both as to its organization, manner of construction and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is an elevation of a washing machine with parts of the cabinet removed to illustrate the operating relationship of the several parts of the apparatus and embodying the novel teachings and principles of the present invention;

Figures 2 and 3 together form a vertical section through the machine of Figure 1, Figure 2 being the upper portion of the machine with parts broken away, and Figure 3 being the lower portion of the machin with parts in elevation and broken away;

Figure 4 is a plan View with the top of the cabinet removed and part of the tub broken away to assist in demonstrating the orientation of the several parts of the apparatus and to illustrate the mounting for the tub;

Figure 5 is a partial elevation with parts broken away of the supporting member by means of which the tub and associated operating mechanism of the washing machine are flexibly supported from the cabinet;

Figure 6 is a partial sectional view illustrating the means for supplying the cleansing fluid to the apparatus at the upper end thereof directly through the vibration dampening means; and

Figure '7 is a partial elevation of a portion of the interior or" the washing machine to show the outlet end of the fluid supply means of Figure 6.

Referring first to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the automatic washing, rinsing and drying.

machine illustrated therein has had its exterior shell or cabinet removed for better inspection of the various component parts of the machine.

The principal frame structure embodies four corner posts 25 to each of which is secured an end of the upper channel members 22 and the lower angle members 23. The channels 22 and the angles 23 may be secured in any suitable fashion to the vertical posts 2 l but are preferably welded to the posts 2 l The vertical legs of the angles 23 are cut away short of the ends of said angles and extend inwardly along the support legs 2! for a short distance. The horizontal legs of the angles 23 extend beyond the ends of vertical legs thereof and are cut away to conform to the arcuate forms ofv the inner peripheries of the support legs 2 i. The projecting ends of the angles 23, 23 form arcuate segments 2d and 25 at opposite ends thereof.v

The segments 2% and 25 of the adjacent angles 23, 2S overlie each other and are suitably secured together and to the inner peripheries of the legs 2i, 21. The overlapping ends 2i and 2d of the angles 23 are apertured to receive bolts 25 forming a part of the foot 21, which is secured to said overlapping ends of said angles by means of a nut 28 (Fig. 3).

On the underside of the horizontally disposed flanges of the angles 23 of the frame structure are secured the angle members 2Q as will be seen in Figures 1 and. 3 of the drawings. The lowerflange portion 3| to provide a snug fit between the cover and the panels l&, =l 9:-.or;20-,1as the; case may be. The cover 30 may be secured tit the frame in any suitable fashion, but is provided on the underside thereof-with"a-pa'irof locating means which takes the'form of the bent strips 32 secured to the underside of the cover 30 and adapted to register-:witlnaz plurality'of 1 blocks 33 of some suitable resilientxmaterialyso z as to render the fit of the cover 30 with respect" to the remainder of the cabinet tight and free from vibration.

Substantially all of the" operating and control mechanism of'the automatic washing machine are: supported within-the cabinet'on a sub-base 3'4"whi'ch' is'preferably in the'fornr' of a casting or'spider'and" which is suspended from-the frame structure in a manner wi'rlhhwill presently bedescribed.

Mounte'd OIY'tIlGUDDGT'SidE of the'spi'der or sub b'ase' 34i's' the tub 35 which" comprises 'a'substantial'ly'cylindricalfwall' 36"an'd a base portion 31 secured to the spider 3'14"as by means'of bolts 38. This tub 35 is centrally apertured" to permit the generally cylindricalboss' portion 39" or the spider tdpass therethrough; Air-annular shoulder fidencircling the baseofthepylindrical boss 35" cooperates with the" gasket 41 and the 42 secured to the shoulder" as by means of bolts 43 170 prevent leakage of'the cleansing fluid from theaperture in the-base 31 of the tub 3'5 whichaccommodates the boss 39: The bossBii'of. thespider'if l' is provid'edwith a bore Min" which is' suitably secured a vertically-extending, generally cylindrical centerpost 4-5:

The center post 45" is" provided. adjacent its uppermost end with" a sleeve bearing. 46 which is press fitted into thecounterbore 41' of the internal horeof'the center post 45; Ahollow'shaft' 4B is 'j'ournaled at its uppermost end in the" sleeve bearing 46 for rotation in concentric relation tothe'axisof the center post45; Disposed about the hollow shaft 48 and adjacent its" uppermost end is'a collar 49which maybe press fitted or otherwise suitably'secur'ed to the hollow shaft 48.. The collar 49: is": provided" with a lower tapered portion 50 which servesas'a; mounting for the supporting member 51 in theupper'end of" which is inserted a' sleeve '52, the" internal contour of which corresponds" to the tapered portion- 50 of the collar 49.

A retaining ring 53 isthreaded onto the upper endcfthe collar 49 andis provided with a tapered portion 54 at its lowermost end which engages the upper end'of the sleeve 52' so as to force it against the tapered portion 50 of the collar 49. The lower end of the support ng member '51 is flared outwardly so as to encircle the upper"- most end of the boss 39 of the spider 34. The supporting member 5| serves as a mounting for the perforated extractor basket 55 which is secured thereto in any suitable fashion adjacent the flared end thereof; The basket 55 is provided'with an opening 56 in the uppermost end thereof and a plurality of perforations 51 in the generally cylindrical wall and the base thereof disposed in suitablyspaced relationship as shown, in part, in Figure 2' of the drawings. A plate 53 ofsubstantially disk-like shape is secured t0 the lowermost end of the supporting member 5| and extends substantially radially therefrom to contact the base of the basket 55 and to serve assaxstiiiening'smeans therefor; a

A sleeve bearing 59 is-'"disposed internally of g and adjacent the uppermost end of the hollow shaft 48, said bearing 59 providing a journal for the verticaL-shaft-fill which extends through the 6| of the hollow shaft 48 for rotation in concentric relation to the axis of said hollow shaft 4 8 andt-he" center post 45. The end of therishafttfl which projects beyond the upper end of"the'-h'ollow' shaft 48 has a tapered and squared. portion. 62. on which is secured, as by meanssof-theaboltzfis an agitator 64 of the multip-Ie-yane type.

An. annular rim 65, which provides a safeguardagainst the possibility of the operator inadvertently inserting hishand between the upper end of the basket 55 and the tub-3 5' -wl-ienthe apparatus is operating; and also preventsthe escape of'the-cleansing fluid from thetub-35= inthe course of operation of the machine-, isde mountabl-y secured to the upperend of the tub 3 5 as by means of the flexible-retaining ring" 65. The retaining" ring 66 renders" it" possible-to remove said annular rim= n, for any-reason; it should benecessaryto have-accesstothe-basket 55 or for the removal of the same from thetubtte The annular'rim 65 is provided with a" depending portion 61 which is bent downwardly so as to extend within the'opening 5B in-the-up per end of the basket 55:

A substantially funnel shaped annular member 58 is secured in any 'sui tablefashion to thedepending portion 61' of the-annularrim 6% and:

extends upwardly therefrom to a point' adjacent the cover 30-ofthe cabinet so as toaid inthe introduction to the machine of the clothing 'or other articles to be laundered astheypass:

through thelid 69 of-the cover 36 A weighted collar 10 which is advantageously disposed. about the external periphery of the member 68 'is'prpvide'd't'o supply added weight to the assembly of operating elements mounted; on. the upper: si'deiof' the spider 34 which wilI-tendto reduce the extent of the swinging movement. of the freely supported spider" 34.. This. weight ring or collar 'Hl'is locatedlinwardly of; the sidewalls of" the basket 55 and henceimmediately above; the region, where the; greater portion of. the clotheswill be thrown when the basket 55 is re: volved at high speed.

Asnwillbe apparentrfrom anli-nspection-of Figures: 1. and. 3 of the drawings, the-driving; mecha.-- nism for'actuating; thee-agitator. Sdand. the-basket 55 is suspended from and mounted'on thenndersideof the spider 3 Power is-derivedlfroman electric motor H which is secured to ar bracket 'lZ-which: carriesthe 'motor-xon the underside of the casting 34'. The motor isof thevertical type and is provided with an armature shaft '55- upon which is mounted" a drive pulley (not shown)". The motor drive pulley is arranged to drive a pulley I? through a drive belt 82', which pulley H is carried on the power input shaft 88 of the transmission unit 18. The drive' pulley-of: the motor (not shown) is also arranged to drive a pulley l9 associated with the basket 55 for'driving the same, audit is also arranged to drive tional movement into oscillatory movement in order to provide the necessary oscillatory drive for the agitator. The power input shaft 88 is provided with a spur gear 86 which meshes with a large gear 91 rotatably mounted upon a stub shaft 98 and maintained in proper endwise relation with respect thereto by means of a snap ring as which is adapted to engage an annular groove formed on the stub shaft 98. The gear 3? through the crank arm IEIB operates a sector gear I III which is meshed with a gear I02 rotatably mounted upon the shaft 60 to which the agitator 6G is attached.

The gear I 82 is disposed in axially slidable relation with respect to the vertical shaft Ell. The lower hub portion I 03 of gear I62 is provided with a plurality of slots I39 extending substantially axially thereof and tapered slightly to fit over the end of a pin H which is mounted on the shaft 50 so as to extend radially therefrom. The gear m2 is movable axially of the shaft Gil by means of a fork III which registers with an annular groove H2 cut into the upper hub portion H3 of the gear Hi2 so as to engage or disengage one of the slots Ills in the lower hub portion I98 of the gear I 62 with the radially disposed pin III) on the shaft 50. The fork III is secured to a vertically extending rod II t which is adapted to slide endwise in the bore N5 of the internal boss I I5 formed in the lower casting 8% of the transmission case, and a sleeve II'I mounted in the upper casting I55 of the transmission case. The rod H4 is raised and lowered by a control mechanism which forms no part of the present application. It will be sufficient to say that horizontal movement of a cam bar I93 causes the upstanding rod I I l to be raised and lowered to thereby disengage and engage, respectively, the agitator drive gear me.

The shaft 66 which, as previously described, is journaled within the bore 6| of the hollow shaft 48 is concentrically disposed within the center post :35 and extends downwardly within the bore M of the boss 39 through the spider 3t and. into the transmission unit 18. The lower end of the shaft Ell is journaled in the bore i It of a boss I is depending from the lower casting 855. A steel ball I25 which is disposed in the inverted, conically shaped base IZlI of the bore IIB of said boss H9 serves a thrust bearing, thereby supporting the shaft 66 in proper endwise relation.

0n the under-side of the top casting 85 of the case enclosing the transmission unit is and encircling the shaft 69 adjacent the point where it extends through the top casting 85 is a packing unit comprising an inverted cup-shaped holder !22 for retaining the packing I23 which serves to prevent the entrance of dirt, dust, or other substances into the transmission case, in which the several parts are immersed in a lubricating medium as well as to prevent leakage of the lubricating medium from the case. The packing E23 is retained in the cup-shaped holder I 22 by means of a disk member I 24 held in place by a com pressed spring I25 urged thereagainst by a washer I25 disposed endWise of the shaft 66 by means of a pin I2? therein. A collar I23 is secured to the shaft I30 at a point just above that at which the shaft 6!} extends through the top casting 8%,: of the casing enclosing the transmission unit is as by means of a set screw I29. The collar is provided with a depending skirt portion I39 which extends downwardly over the opening in the top casting 85 through which the shaft 60 passes. The collar I28 acts as a means for supporting the hollow shaft 48 by virtue of the fact that the sleeve bearing I3I fits into the hollow shaft 38 at its lowermost end and is provided with an annular flange portion I32 which contacts the upper face of the collar I 28.

A pulley I9 which as previously explained is driven from the motor 1! is rotatably mounted about the external periphery of the hollow shaft 5-5 by means of the bushing i553 which is press fitted into the pulley "IS. The pulley '39 is retained in enolwise relation to the shaft 58 in any suitable manner.

The particular clutch and braking mechanism by which the basket is driven by the pulley 59 forms no part of the present invention, and for that reason, it will be sufficient to point out that the flange ring I42 carrying a rim of friction material N54 is mounted for limited axial movement on the hollow shaft t8 but is prevented from relative rotation therewith. The flange member M2 is carried on a yoke member I 5'! which is mounted for limited angular movement about a pivot pin I52 on an upstanding post its carried on the upper housing member 85 of the transmission unit. The yoke I5? is angularly moved about the pivot pin I52 by limited vertical movement of the rod IE6 which is in turn moved by horizontal movement of a cam bar 299. A spring I3 acting against a washer I64 on the post Its holds the yoke member I51 against the pivot pin I52.

Another coiled spring I'IIl surrounding the rod its normally biases the yoke I5? to its lowermost position, or, in other words, with the pulley E9 in driving engagement with the flange member I 12. When the rod IE5 is lifted upwardly by the cam oar 2&9, the flange member which acts as the clutch is lifted free of the pulley 'lE-i therebv to disconnect the driving engagement with the hollow basket shaft at. As the flange member I 52 is raised upwardly, a braking action takes place between the brake disk I I2 and an annular member I 55 which is carried on the shank portion let of the flange member I42.

The filling and draining mechanism insofar as it is pertinent to the present invention will now be described. Referring to Figure 4, the inlets I and I'll supply hot and cold water to an automatic'temperature controlled mixing valve H3. The outlet side of the mixing valve I78 connects with a hose I'I9 which is arranged to deliver water to the tub 35 through the weighted collar member S8. As shown in Figure 6 of the drawings, the delivery hose I79 is connected to a nozzle ZIEI mounted upon the inner periphery of the annular member 68, and disposed adjacent to the cover 30 the nozzle 276 is provided with a flared outlet end 211, the back wall of which cooperates with a substantially semi-circular vertically disposed flanged portion 2'58 to position the nozzle 2Y6 so that its threaded portion 2% will extend through an aperture 289 in the annular member 68. A female connection 282 which is adapted to be secured to the threaded portion rid of the nozzle 276 provides a means for connecting thereto the flexible hose I19.

The base 37 of the tub 35 is provided with a sump I80, the bottom of which connects with the pump BI through the hose connection I8! leading to the inlet side I32 of the pump 8|. The outlet or discharge side I33 of the pump BI connects through a hose let to a drain or catch-basin (not shown). The pump unit BI is arranged to be driven from the motor II in any convenient manner.

dr wi s substantially all o th pe a in and contrQl-mechanismcf he a tomati Wash n Ina- Q lil l i 5 1M291. 1 d, i hi lil'fi @abinetin. Sljostan tially floating relation. This mounting is efiected by suspending the casting or spider 34 from the frame structure of thecabinet as by means of a plurality of suspension'members I56; Thespider or, casting 345* is provided with a plurality of pro-v jecting lugs {81 to which the lowerends'of the suspension members 1186 are secured, Three such lugs l3? and a corresponding number of suspens-ion members .l 8,6 are shown in thepreferred form of theinvention. Two of thesuspension members I86 are disposed at corners of the cabinet, while the. third suspension member I85 is positioned midway of the ends of the opposite, wall of the cabinet.

A pair of angle members i8 8 disposed diagonally of the adjacent corners-of the cabinet and secured to the web portion of the channels 22 provide m ans to which the upper ends of the two suspen; sion members i865 disposed at adjacent corners of the cabinet may be. secured. A mounting means 18,55 is shown as being attached to the web, of the channels 22 at the right-hand side of the frame (as illustrated in Figure 4) to provide a means to which the upper end of the third of thev suspension members 13.6, may be secured.

Each suspension member 586, which is shown in detail in Figure 5 of the drawings, comprises a pair of substantially spherical molded cushioning pads I99, one of which is secured to each end of the rod portion l9! as by means ofthe threaded studs I92, The studs :52 are provided with flat heads I93 which are molded into the cushioning pads I911 formed of rubber or other resilient moldable material. Th threaded ends of the studs I92 are adapted to be threaded into-the internal bore of the rod portion lei to provide endwise adjustment of the suspension members I86, lock nuts 154 being providedtoretain said studs [92 in their proper adjusted endwise relationshipto the rod portion 19!.

The mounting means I89 is provided with a substantially hemispherically shaped socket, [95in the face thereof to receive the substantially spherically shaped cushioning pads IQ!) of the suspension members I35. A cap member 1960f a. shape corresponding to that of the socket 1951s, secured to, the face of the suspension means E89, by the boltifll and cooperate with said socket. I55. to mp etely ncl se the cushioning pad A im l y hap d h misph r cally shaped o t 1 is fo med. i he unde side of the. lugs t oi the a i 3. e ha ns the ase ap re tured as at {9.5 through which the studs. L92 ass sociated with the lowermost cushioning pad I911 may extend- A, can 20.53 cooperates with the socket 198 in the lugs is! to completely enclose the cushioning pads {stand is secured to said lugs {81 as by means oi thebolts 2.6! (see Figure 4),

A substantially identical construction to that just described is associated with each of the re.- maining suspension members I86. thereby pro: viding a free and flexible mounting for, the spider or casting, 35. This floating mounting with the Wei ht, ring located substantially opposite to the point from which the members I86 are suspended from the casing of the washing machine and high above the floating base or casting on which substantially all of the mechanism of the washing machine is mounted, substantially eliminates vibrations from being transmitted, to the outer shell or casing of the washing machine and to the 119 1: or: oth r unpcrt'onwhi h the washing m chine is seat d.

D ng operatio of: thegvashins; m in he tub isfirst filledwith soapy waterand then the agitator 64 is oscillated through the transmission unit 18. This operation, when completed, is followed bya draining of the water from the tub'35. through the sump I80 and the hose I8 I, the pump 8i being used to discharge the water through the discharge hose its. Thereafter, the basket is rotated at high speed to, extract the waterfrom the, clothes. It is at this tim in the cycle of operation that. trouble is usually encountered in machines heretofore known from excessive vibration, The machine of the present invention,

however, substantially eliminates all vibration even though the clothes or other articles being washed are disposed in an unsymmetrical manner within the basket 55,. Following the extraction operation, the steps may again be repeated except this time clear fresh water is used rather than soapy water in order to effect the rinsing of the clothes.

While we have shown a particular embodiment of our invention, it will, of course, be understood that we do not wish to be limited thereto since many modifications may be made, and we therefore contemplate bythe, appended claim to cover all such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of our invention.

W claim as our invention:

In a laundry machine, a casing, a platform within said casing spaced a substantial distance above the bottom thereof, a plurality of suspension links, means. supporting said links on said casing adjacent the upper end thereof and yieldably restraining gyratory movement of said links about their upper ends, means suspending said platform from the lower ends of said links and yieldably restraining gyratory movement of said platform about said links, a fluid containing tub secured to said platform and extending upwardly therefrom, a clothes containin v basket rotatably mounted. on said platform within said tub, drive mechanism. depending from the bottom of said platform, said tub. having anannular rimextending over the top of said basket and terminating in a flange extending within said basket and above the top thereof and forming a nonrotatable clothes receiving opening for said basket, and an annular counterbalancing weight encircling said flange and secured to the outer periphery thereof and extending above thetop of said basket and the region of the unbalanced ass clot th r in- PET R EDUA D G L HG EINGER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

